Pilot Debrief

SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS-2B near Batesville, TX — 2010-08-04

Final reportCEN10LA459
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Date
2010-08-04
Location
Batesville, TX, USA
Aircraft
SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS-2B
Registration
N7470C
Category
Glider
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1

Probable cause

Both glider pilots’ inability to see and avoid the other resulting in a mid-air collision. --- Both glider pilots' inability to see and avoid the other resulting in a mid-air collision.

NTSB narrative

While participating in a soaring competition, a Schempp-Hirth glider and an Alexander Schleicher glider collided while in flight. The Schempp-Hirth glider was outbound from the last way point for the competition course and the Alexander Schleicher glider was inbound to this same point. The courses inbound and outbound from this way point are near reciprocals of one another. According to the pilot of the Alexander Schleicher glider and the damage to both gliders, the empennage and tailwheel of the Schempp-Hirth glider impacted the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the Alexander Schleicher glider. The speed, altitude, and course of each glider would not have allowed enough time for either pilot to see the other glider and react with enough time to avoid a collision. An examination of the airframe and related systems of both gliders revealed no anomalies.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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